Adult Literacy Intermediate Quiz: Determining Word Meaning
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Determining Word MeaningQuestion 1 of 10

Building Renovation Notice

The dates below are provisional. Work is expected to begin May 8, but the schedule may change after the city inspector visits the property. Residents will receive a confirmed schedule by May 3.

Based on the notice, what does provisional most nearly mean?

Planned for now but subject to change
Approved by the city without conditions
Delayed until residents provide permission
Arranged to occur earlier than expected
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Adult Literacy Intermediate Quiz

Adult Literacy Intermediate Quiz: Determining Word Meaning

Practice Determining Word Meaning in Adult Literacy Intermediate with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Determining Word Meaning, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Adult Literacy Intermediate.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

Building Renovation Notice

The dates below are provisional. Work is expected to begin May 8, but the schedule may change after the city inspector visits the property. Residents will receive a confirmed schedule by May 3.

Based on the notice, what does provisional most nearly mean?

  1. Planned for now but subject to change (correct answer)
  2. Approved by the city without conditions
  3. Delayed until residents provide permission
  4. Arranged to occur earlier than expected
Explanation: When a question asks what a word "most nearly means," your job is to use context clues — the surrounding sentences — rather than guessing based on how the word sounds or looks. Look at how the notice uses provisional: it immediately follows up by saying "the schedule may change" after the inspector visits. That's your clue. The word is being used to signal that the dates aren't final. Answer A — "planned for now but subject to change" — matches this perfectly. It captures both that the dates exist and that they could be revised, which is exactly what the passage describes. B says the dates are "approved by the city without conditions," but the passage says the opposite — the city inspector hasn't even visited yet, and changes might follow that visit. Nothing has been finalized or approved. C introduces the idea that residents must give permission before work begins, but the notice says nothing about residents having any say in the schedule. This is a trap that sounds plausible because residents are mentioned, just not in that role. D claims the dates were arranged to happen earlier than expected, but the passage gives no comparison to an earlier or later timeline — that idea is simply not there. A useful strategy: when you see an unfamiliar word in a passage, don't stop at the sentence it's in — read what comes right after it. Writers often explain or give examples immediately following a key term, especially in practical documents like notices and announcements. That follow-up information is frequently your best clue to meaning.

Question 2

Payroll Email

Your signed time sheet lists 38 hours, but the payroll system lists 35. Please ask your supervisor to review this discrepancy before checks are issued.

In the email, what does discrepancy refer to?

  1. A delay in issuing every employee's paycheck
  2. A disagreement between two recorded amounts (correct answer)
  3. An unauthorized change to the work schedule
  4. A request to approve three overtime hours
Explanation: When a question asks what a word "refers to" in context, you're being tested on vocabulary in context — meaning you shouldn't just know the word in isolation, but understand how it's being used in that specific situation. Start by looking at the surrounding sentences for clues. In the email, two numbers are placed side by side: your time sheet says 38 hours, but the payroll system says 35. The word discrepancy is used to describe this mismatch between those two recorded figures. That points directly to B — a disagreement between two recorded amounts. The email even reinforces this by asking the supervisor to "review" the issue before checks go out, implying something doesn't line up and needs to be corrected. A is a trap because the email does mention checks being issued, which might make "delay" feel relevant — but nothing in the passage says checks are delayed for all employees. The concern is about accuracy, not timing. C goes too far by introducing the idea of an "unauthorized change," which the passage never implies — no one is accused of wrongdoing. D misreads the situation: yes, the difference between 38 and 35 is three hours, but the word discrepancy describes the conflict between the two numbers, not a request to approve overtime. A useful strategy: when a vocabulary question stumps you, replace the word with each answer choice and see which one fits the sentence smoothly. "Please ask your supervisor to review this disagreement between two recorded amounts" makes clear, logical sense — that's your confirmation.

Question 3

Correction from the Safety Office

Yesterday, we stated that the loading area would remain closed all week. We now retract that statement because a later inspection showed the area can reopen Wednesday. Please follow the updated notice.

What does retract mean as used in the correction?

  1. Repeat a statement so that everyone notices it
  2. Shorten a statement while keeping its meaning
  3. Withdraw a statement because it is no longer valid (correct answer)
  4. Delay a statement until an inspection is complete
Explanation: When a question asks you to define a word "as used" in a passage, your job is to look at the surrounding context — not just guess what the word sounds like. Here, the Safety Office is taking back something they said the day before, because new information changed the situation. That context is your biggest clue. The word retract comes from the Latin root meaning "to pull back." In everyday use, it means to officially withdraw or take back a statement. The passage confirms this perfectly: the office made an error, got new information from an inspection, and is now pulling back their original claim. That makes C — "withdraw a statement because it is no longer valid" — the correct answer. Every part of that definition fits: they are withdrawing it, and the reason is that it no longer reflects the truth. A is a trap because "retract" might visually remind you of words like "broadcast" or "repeat," but repeating a statement is the opposite of retracting it. B is a distractor that plays on the idea of "making something shorter" — possibly because "retract" sounds like it could mean "contract" or shrink — but the office isn't condensing their message, they're canceling it. D sounds plausible because an inspection is mentioned, but the retraction happens after the inspection, not in order to delay anything. A useful strategy: when a vocabulary question involves a formal or official document, look for action words nearby — like "correction" and "updated notice" here — that signal what the key word is doing. Those clues almost always point you to the right definition.

Question 4

Apartment Care Guide

Run the bathroom fan during showers and report leaks promptly. These actions can mitigate moisture damage, although they cannot prevent every plumbing or ventilation problem.

Based on the guide, what does mitigate most nearly mean?

  1. Identify the exact source of existing damage
  2. Transfer responsibility for damage to the tenant
  3. Eliminate every possible cause of future damage
  4. Reduce the seriousness or likelihood of damage (correct answer)
Explanation: When you encounter an unfamiliar vocabulary word in a passage, the best strategy is to look for context clues — the surrounding sentences that hint at meaning. Here, the guide tells you that running the bathroom fan and reporting leaks can mitigate moisture damage, but these actions "cannot prevent every plumbing or ventilation problem." That contrast between what the actions can do versus what they cannot do is your clue: the word describes a partial, not total, solution. That logic points directly to D — reduce the seriousness or likelihood of damage. Mitigating something means making it less severe or less likely, not eliminating it entirely. The passage confirms this: the actions help, but they don't guarantee a perfect outcome. A is wrong because mitigate has nothing to do with identifying or diagnosing where damage comes from. The passage doesn't mention investigating a source — it describes taking preventive action. B is a trap if you're thinking about landlord-tenant responsibility, but the word has no legal or blame-shifting meaning here. The guide is simply describing outcomes of good habits. C is the most tempting distractor because "eliminate every possible cause" sounds like a strong form of prevention — but the passage explicitly says these actions cannot prevent every problem, which rules out any definition suggesting total elimination. A useful tip: when a passage contrasts what something can do with what it cannot do, that contrast often defines the word in question. On vocabulary questions, always ask yourself, "Does this answer go too far, or does it match the limited meaning the context suggests?"

Question 5

Community Center Update

The west entrance is now accessible. Its steep steps were replaced by a ramp, and power-assisted doors were installed.

Dictionary entry: accessible (adjective)

  1. easy to reach, enter, or use

  2. designed so that people with disabilities can use it

  3. willing to communicate with others

Which dictionary meaning of accessible best fits the update?

  1. Meaning 1, because the ramp and doors make the entrance easier to use for everyone
  2. Meaning 1, because the entrance is now open during additional hours each week
  3. Meaning 3, because staff members near the entrance will answer questions
  4. Meaning 2, because the changes specifically reduce barriers for people with disabilities (correct answer)
Explanation: When a word has multiple dictionary definitions, your job is to match the specific context of the passage — not just find a definition that sounds related. Ask yourself: what exactly happened, and which meaning captures that most precisely? The passage describes steep steps being replaced by a ramp and power-assisted doors being installed. These are deliberate modifications designed to remove physical barriers — which points directly to Meaning 2: "designed so that people with disabilities can use it." That's answer D, and it's the best fit because the changes aren't accidental improvements; they're targeted accommodations for people who may struggle with stairs or heavy doors. Answer A is tempting because ramps and power doors do make the entrance easier for everyone — but "easier to use for everyone" describes Meaning 1 in a general sense. The passage's details emphasize barrier removal for people with disabilities, making Meaning 2 the more precise match. Choosing A means settling for a definition that's close but not exact. Answer B is simply invented — the passage says nothing about extended hours, so this choice introduces information that doesn't exist in the text. Never select an answer that relies on details the passage doesn't provide. Answer C misreads both the passage and the definition. Meaning 3 is about a person being approachable and willing to communicate — it applies to people, not entrances. Nothing in the update mentions staff interaction. Strategy tip: When matching a word to a dictionary definition, always ask: which definition is most specific to the evidence given? A general definition might feel correct, but the best answer reflects the precise situation described in the passage.

Question 6

Training Registration Policy

Each registration is nontransferable. If you cannot attend, you may request a refund by Friday, but you may not give your reserved place to a coworker.

Using the word parts and the policy details, what does nontransferable mean?

  1. Not refundable after the stated deadline
  2. Not movable to a different training date
  3. Not able to be given to another person (correct answer)
  4. Not confirmed until a coworker attends
Explanation: When a question asks you to define a word using "word parts and context," your first move should be to break the word apart, then check the passage for clues that confirm your interpretation. Take nontransferable: the prefix non- means "not," and the root transfer means "to move or pass something to another person or place." Put them together and you get "not able to be transferred" — meaning something cannot be handed off or given away. The policy makes this concrete when it says, "you may not give your reserved place to a coworker." That phrase is essentially a plain-English definition of nontransferable, and it points directly to C as the correct answer. Now let's look at why the other choices miss the mark. A says the word means "not refundable after the stated deadline," but the policy actually does allow refunds — if you request one by Friday. Refunds are a separate topic from transferring, so this choice mixes up two different rules. B suggests the word means "not movable to a different training date," which sounds plausible because transfer can involve moving something, but the passage never mentions changing dates — it only addresses giving your spot to someone else. D claims the spot isn't confirmed until a coworker attends, which has no support anywhere in the passage and doesn't connect to any part of the word. As a strategy, whenever you see a long or unfamiliar word, look for a prefix like non-, un-, or dis- and strip it away. Define the root, then reattach the prefix. Finally, scan the surrounding text for a sentence that illustrates the word's meaning — passages often define key terms in plain language nearby.

Question 7

Permit Application Options

Applicants may pay an additional fee to expedite the initial review. This service shortens the review period from ten business days to four, but it does not guarantee that a permit will be approved.

What does expedite mean in this passage?

  1. Speed up a step in the application process (correct answer)
  2. Guarantee approval after the fee is paid
  3. Remove a required review from the process
  4. Extend the deadline for submitting documents
Explanation: When you encounter an unfamiliar word on a reading exam, your best strategy is to study the context clues — the surrounding sentences that hint at the word's meaning. Here, the passage tells you that paying extra "shortens the review period from ten business days to four." That description of making a process faster is your definition right there. That's exactly what A captures: expedite means to speed up a step in the process. The fee buys you a shorter wait, nothing more. The word expedite comes from Latin roots meaning to free the feet — to remove obstacles so something can move more quickly. You'll see it used in professional and legal documents to mean "move faster." B is a trap because the passage directly warns that the service "does not guarantee that a permit will be approved." This distractor plays on what a person might hope paying extra would mean — but the passage shuts that door explicitly. C is wrong because the review isn't removed; it still happens, just more quickly. Confusing "shorter" with "eliminated" is an easy mix-up. D points in the opposite direction entirely — expedite speeds something up, while extending a deadline slows things down or pushes it further out. A useful tip: when a word question appears in a passage, always look for a sentence nearby that explains the effect of whatever the word describes. In this case, the phrase "shortens the review period" is the passage's own definition of expedite — you don't even need to know the word in advance.

Question 8

Water Service Alert

Until further notice, water from the outdoor taps is nonpotable. It may be used to wash equipment, but employees must use bottled water for drinking and preparing food.

What does nonpotable mean in this alert?

  1. Not available in containers that can be carried
  2. Not suitable for drinking or food preparation (correct answer)
  3. Not permitted for washing tools or equipment
  4. Not supplied unless employees request it first
Explanation: When you encounter an unfamiliar word in a workplace document, context clues are your best tool. Ask yourself: what does the surrounding text tell me about how this word is being used? In this alert, the word nonpotable appears alongside a direct contrast — employees cannot use this water for drinking or food preparation, but can use it for washing equipment. That contrast is your biggest clue. The word is clearly describing a limitation on the water's safety for human consumption, which confirms that B — not suitable for drinking or food preparation — is the correct answer. This is also the standard definition of nonpotable: the prefix non- means "not," and potable means safe to drink. A is a trap for anyone who focuses on the word's sound. Nonpotable might visually remind you of "portable" (as in carry-able containers), but that's a different word entirely. Don't let similar-sounding words mislead you. C gets the meaning completely backwards — the alert explicitly permits using this water for washing equipment, so nonpotable does not restrict that use. D invents a meaning that has nothing to do with the word or the passage; there's no mention of a request process anywhere in the text. Study tip: On vocabulary questions, always check whether the passage itself defines or contrasts the word. Workplace documents like safety alerts often give you the meaning right in context — as this one does by telling you what the water can and cannot be used for. That contrast is frequently the key to unlocking an unfamiliar term.

Question 9

Maintenance Report

The copier has an intermittent problem. On some mornings it prints normally for an hour, then stops. After being restarted, it may work again before the same problem returns.

What does intermittent mean as used in the report?

  1. Occurring at irregular times with breaks in between (correct answer)
  2. Continuing steadily until a repair is completed
  3. Happening only when the machine is first started
  4. Becoming gradually worse each time it returns
Explanation: When a question asks you to find the meaning of a word "as used" in a passage, your job is to look at the context clues — the surrounding sentences that show how the word behaves in that specific situation. Don't rely only on what you think a word means in general; let the passage guide you. In this report, the copier doesn't break down permanently, nor does it fail on a fixed schedule. Instead, it works fine, then stops, then works again, then stops again — with no predictable pattern. That on-and-off, unpredictable behavior is exactly what intermittent means. Answer A — "occurring at irregular times with breaks in between" — matches perfectly. The passage even gives you evidence: "on some mornings," "may work again," and "before the same problem returns" all point to something that keeps stopping and starting unpredictably. Answer B is the opposite of what's described. The copier does not run steadily — it keeps cutting out, which rules out "continuing steadily." Answer C is a trap because the problem does appear in the morning, but it doesn't happen only at startup — the passage says it can return after restarting, meaning it recurs throughout use. Answer D suggests the problem worsens each time, but the passage gives no information about the problem intensifying — it simply reappears. A useful strategy: when a vocabulary question uses the phrase "as used in the passage," underline the sentence containing the word and ask yourself, what behavior or quality is being described here? Then match that description to the answer choices, eliminating anything that contradicts the passage's details.

Question 10

Library Account Notice

The library will waive the replacement fee if you return the missing book by June 10.

Dictionary entry: waive (verb)

  1. to choose not to require or enforce something

  2. to give up a right or claim voluntarily

Which meaning of waive is used in the notice?

  1. The library will postpone collecting the fee until June 10.
  2. The library will choose not to require the fee. (correct answer)
  3. The customer will give up the right to return the book.
  4. The customer will challenge the amount of the fee.
Explanation: When a question asks you to match a word's meaning to how it's used in a specific sentence, your job is two-part: understand the dictionary definitions and identify who is doing what in the passage. Both steps matter here. The notice says the library will waive the fee if you return the book in time. Look at definition 1: "to choose not to require or enforce something." The library is the one acting — it's deciding not to collect the replacement fee. That lines up perfectly with choice B, which captures both the subject (the library) and the action (choosing not to require the fee). B is your answer. Now let's clear up why the other choices miss the mark. A says the library will postpone the fee, but postponing means delaying — the fee would still come later. Waiving means canceling the requirement entirely, not pushing it to a future date. That's a meaningful difference. C gets the subject wrong: it says the customer gives up the right to return the book, but the passage puts the library in the driver's seat, not the customer. C also pulls from definition 2 (giving up a right voluntarily), but applies it to the wrong person doing the wrong thing. D introduces the idea of challenging the fee amount, which appears nowhere in the passage or either definition — it's a distractor designed to tempt you if you're unsure of the word. A useful strategy: when a word has multiple dictionary definitions, eliminate choices based on who is acting, not just the general meaning. Subject and action together must both match.